Contextually-based local selective communications device

ABSTRACT

A local communications device comprises a station ( 9, 25 ) for communicating with mobile terminals ( 11 ) and a controller ( 3 ) for transmitting a message of the mobile terminal ( 11 ). The inventive device comprises a beacon ( 19, 21 ) interacting with a portable passive object ( 17 ) for obtaining at least one code word. The controller ( 3 ) interacts with the beacon ( 19, 21 ) for storing the code word thus obtained and for subsequently actuating a decision mechanism relating to a spontaneous message transmission. A decision for transmitting a message depends, at least partially, on the code word.

The invention relates to local contextual communications ortelecommunications, i.e. on site and as a function of the context.

Proposals of this kind have already been made particularly in patentspecification WO 01/89189 A2 by the same applicant. The context isdefined using “mobile stations” which can be installed as required atdifferent locations in a given place. The cooperation of these stationswith posts such as portable telephones (or mobile telephones) makes itpossible to recognise the context and hence to deliver a message as aresult, from a contextual service provider. We will return to this inmore detail hereinafter.

It is desirable to find a solution which is as universal as possiblewhile avoiding having the user being inundated by unwanted messages orunsolicited services, as will be seen.

The present invention sets out to improve this situation. It proposes alocal communications device of the type having a station which has amode of communication with mobile terminals and a controller capable ofsending a message intended for one or more mobile terminals. The deviceaccording to the invention further comprises a beacon capable ofinteracting with at least one passive portable object in order to obtainat least one code word from such a portable object. According to theinvention, the controller is designed to interact with the beacon inorder to memorise the code word obtained, at least temporarily, and thensubsequent to this interaction, to implement a decision mechanismrelating to the spontaneous sending of a message, in which the decisionto send a message, its contents and/or its destination address depend atleast partially on the code word stored.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom a study of the detailed description that follows and the attacheddrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the device accordingto the invention,

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a detail of the device in FIG. 1Aaccording to an alternative embodiment,

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a tag for the device in FIG. 1Aaccording to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a tag for the device in FIG. 1Aaccording to a different embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the device in FIG.1A according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 4A to 4D are diagrams showing different arrangements of the devicein FIG. 1A,

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a beacon for thedevice according to the invention in a particular application,

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a beacon for thedevice according to the invention in another particular application,

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the deviceaccording to the invention in the particular applications in FIGS. 5 and6.

The drawings contain elements of a specific type. They may thereforeserve not only to assist with the understanding of the present inventionbut may also contribute to the definition thereof, where appropriate.

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a “contextual service” which ensures thecontextual provision of information on a mobile terminal. By contextualprovision is meant the ability to provide selectively, without furtherrequests by the user other than the choice of information, informationrelating to the environment observed by the user: objects or persons inthe vicinity, the location/building/room where the user is located, inparticular. The information to be supplied to the user may be of varioustypes: a text message, image, sound, video, optionally by streaming, acomposite document such as a web page or a hyperlink (pointer) towards adocument (Web or Wap, for example), although this list is notrestrictive. In the phrase “contextual provision”, the notion of“context” represents the local physical ambience as oppose to thecontext procured by the mobile terminal itself on account of itscommunication functions. In particular, the different communicationpossibilities provided in general terms by the mobile terminal itselfare not regarded as “contextual information”.

A context may be defined by a number of general approaches.

A first approach implies previous identification of the location. Itconsists in supplying the contextual information after having determinedthe position of the user carrying the mobile terminal. A locationinfrastructure such as GPS will do this, but this method is fairlyonerous and not universal as few mobile terminals are equipped with thislocation function. It is also known that the communications networksupplied to the mobile terminal may provide an approximate location forthe user with his terminal by trying out triangulations according to thepositions of the base stations that “see” the mobile terminal. However,the position of the user can only be determined with a degree ofapproximation that varies widely according to the place: in effect, asthe complete opposite to GPS, for example, the infrastructure is notspecifically designed for positioning because the arrangement of thebase stations is determined essentially with the aim of ensuring goodconnectivity for the network users. This other method which is again notuniversal is furthermore inadequate where precise and reliablepositioning is required.

A different approach which may be termed “physical” is described in thepatent specification WO 01/89189 A2, mentioned previously, by the sameapplicant. Here, a local communications device is provided comprising atleast one station having means for communicating with mobile terminals.According to this approach, an attempt is made to define “zones”associated with each type of contextual information directly by aparticular geometric arrangement of physical objections. In WO 01/89189A2, these objections are termed “mobile stations”, in that they can beplaced at any desired location and moved again if necessary. The “zones”can thus be made variable to the necessary degree for modifying thephysical arrangement of the objects (“mobile stations”) which definethem in order to modify the perimeters associated with the stations. A“contextual service” can then send a message (more generally a modulatedcontextual service) to one or more users. This is controlled by theexchange of information between the station or stations and the or eachmobile terminal. This implicitly involves the use of a controllercapable of sending the message corresponding to the contextual service.

The station or stations may be equipped with a short rangecommunications system such as Bluetooth which may be supplemented byaccess to an extended communications network such as mobile telephony.

The present invention is a descendent of WO 01/89189 A2. In the contextof a “physical approach” there is therefore on the one hand aninfrastructure comprising the stations and a service provided on demandby telecommunications, and on the other hand pairs of mobileterminals/users.

The applicant has noted that two major subclasses can thus bedifferentiated.

The first subclass is referred to here as the pull approach. In thiscase the context is determined at the level of the mobile terminal/userpair. The mobile terminal collects a set C of information (attributes)from the surrounding stations. The mobile terminal then contacts theservice provider itself, theoretically automatically, specifying the setof attributes C. This allows the service to be adapted/modulated and bedelivered in return to the mobile terminal. In this “pull” approach,access to the service is initiated by the mobile terminal/user pair.

The “pull” subclass requires that a material component and/or specificsoftware dedicated to acquiring the context and subsequently accessingthe service be implanted in the mobile terminal. This component can beconfigured by the user in order to give access only to certain types ofcontextual information or possibly none. This means that this approachis not universal, owing to the need to install a specific component andalso for the user to configure it, especially in order to specify thefiltering of the information which is to be collected, a procedure whichis not necessarily understandable to everyone.

The second subclass is termed here the “push” approach. In this case themobile terminal/user pair is detected by the infrastructure and thencontacted directly by the latter which thus initiates the service. Thedrawback of this latter method (push) is that it does not take accountof the wishes of the user (who has the mobile terminal) as the servicecan directly reach all the terminals which are “within range”. The usermay thus find himself repeatedly contacted by unwanted contextualmessages or, at the very least, by interrogations of his mobileterminal, asking for his consent to receive contextual messages. This isthe case particularly with the Bluetooth push, which involves contactingthe user every time he enters the zone within range of the service. Thisis similar to the nuisance felt, moreover as a result of unwantedmessages known as “spam”.

It is also possible to look at the possibility of using a globalcommunications infrastructure (of the SMS platform type).

Architecture

The architecture of the contextual local communication device 1according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIG.1A.

The communications device 1 according to the invention comprises acontextual service control platform 3 (or controller) operatingaccording to the push approach described above. The control platform 3is associated with a contextual service zone 5. By this is meant thatthe control platform 3 is arranged so as to deliver at least onecontextual service virtually anywhere in the service zone 5. The servicezone 5 is determined as a function of at least one physical element ofinterest 7 linked to at least one service to be delivered in the servicezone 5. The form and nature of this physical element 7 and the nature ofthe service to be provided may be interdependent.

As a non-restrictive example, the physical element 7 may be a publicnotice board and the service zone 5 may be determined so that messageson this board are visible from anywhere in the service zone 5.

The control platform 3 is connected to at least one short range wirelesscommunications interface 9 capable of setting up such a communicationwith mating communication means present in the service zone 5. Inparticular, the communication interface 9 makes it possible to establisha communication with at least one mobile terminal 11 provided withcompatible short range wireless communication means 13 and locatedwithin the service zone 5. This communication allows the mobile terminal11 to receive a message transmitted by the control platform 3.

The mobile terminal 11 may be in the form of a mobile telephone, aportable computer, a personal digital assistant, an earpiece of theBluetooth type, or the like.

More and more mobile telephones and personal digital assistants designednowadays incorporate Bluetooth communication means in series: thecontrol platform 3 therefore preferably comprises a communicationsinterface 9 that conforms to this standard.

Other short range wireless communication technologies such as WIFI (asdefined in IEEE 802.11b/g), ZigBee or the like may be used.

In an advantageous embodiment not shown here, the control platform 3comprises a plurality of short range wireless communications interfaces9 of different technologies. Thus, communications using differenttechnologies may be established within the service zone 5, thusincreasing the compatibility of the device according to the inventionwith commercial mobile terminals 11. This also reduces the respectivecosts of each communications interface 9.

Preferably, the control platform 3 comprises a plurality ofcommunications interfaces 9 of the same technology in order to reducethe respective loads for each interface still further. Thus, betteravailability and a more reactive service are obtained as the connectionsare distributed over several interfaces. This is particularly noticeablein the case of a number of Bluetooth interfaces.

The control platform 3 is linked to a radio frequency tag detectingnetwork 15 arranged so as to detect the entry, exit and/or presence of atag 17 of this kind within the service zone 5.

The tags 17 here may be of the type known as RFID. More generally, whatis referred to as “radio frequency tag” in this description is a smallportable object, passive or quasi-passive, which permanently stores acollection of bits and can be interrogated by short range radiocommunication. Throughout the present description this collection ofbits will be referred to as the memory. Other types of tag may be used,for example NFC tags (from the English term Near Field Computing).

The detection network 15 comprises at least one manager 19 and anantenna 21 connected thereto. The antenna 21 is capable of reading thedata contained in the memory of a radio frequency tag 17 within itsrange.

In one embodiment, the detection network 15 comprises a single antenna21 connected to the manager 19: the presence of the tag 17 within rangeof the antenna can thus be detected. It is then possible to detect thepresence of the tag 17 at a particular point in the service zone 5. Thedata contained in the memory of the tag 17 can only be read at thisparticular point in the service zone 5.

In another embodiment, the detection network 15 comprises a plurality ofantennas 21 connected to the manager 19 and distributed so as to coveran area that is greater than the range of a single antenna 21. Inparticular, the antennas 21 may be distributed so that a tag 17 can beread anywhere in the service zone 5 or be distributed along theperiphery of the service zone 5.

The detection network 15 may in the case of a plurality of antennascomprise a plurality of managers 19, particularly when the maximumnumber of antennas that can be connected to the manager 19 is reached.

The manager 19 may comprise, for example, an RI-CTL-MB2A controller ofseries S2000 manufactured by Texas Instruments and RF-MOD-TX8Amultiplexers manufactured by the same company.

In some configurations (FIG. 1B), the service zone 5 is accessible onlythrough obligatory identified pass-through points. In this case anentry/exit detector connected to the manager is advantageously providedat each of these pass-through points. A detector of this kind comprises,for example, two rows of antennas 21A and 21B arranged at saidpass-through point, parallel to one another and transversely withrespect to the direction of movement. Thus the direction of movement ofa tag 17 can be detected: when the row 21A detects a tag 17 in front ofthe row 21B the direction of movement is from antenna 21A towardsantenna 21B, and vice versa.

This embodiment avoids having to distribute antennas 21 throughout theservice zone 5.

Advantageously, so called “flexible” antennas are used which can followthe contour of a support, e.g. flexible antennas on plastic film of theCIPAM CIP_ANT-LF type.

The control platform further comprises a computer 23 capable ofcontrolling the provision of services by the “push” approach.

Optionally, the control platform 3 comprises local storage means forcontents to be delivered (not shown). These means may take the form ofNAS servers (from the English term Network Area Storage).

The control platform 3 further comprises an access interface 25 to aglobal communications network 26 of the wired or wireless type, such asGSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, IP or the like.

This communications interface 25 allows the control platform 3, on theone hand, to access remote data processing means which are suitable forcarrying out data processing for at least some of the services to beprovided in the service zone 5 or for material resources which are awayfrom the service zone 5.

On the other hand, the interface 25 makes it possible to establishcommunication with mobile terminals 11 which have related globalcommunications means 27, i.e. of the cellular network type, for example,GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS or the like. This makes it possible in particularto establish communication with a mobile terminal 11 of the standardportable telephone type.

According to the invention the tag 17 is arranged on an object carriedby the user of a mobile terminal. This portable user object mayadvantageously take the form of a card, for example resembling a creditcard. The portable object may also take the form of a key ring. Finally,the tag may be self adhesive so that it can be placed on any substrateat the user's discretion. In particular, the tag may also be integratedin common objects carried by the user, for example clothes (shoes,pullover, etc.).

The tag 17 is advantageously of the type known as a passive tag, i.e.the tag 17 has no autonomous energy or processing capacity. It isnevertheless capable of responding to an interrogation request bysending a message containing the data stored in its memory. The energyneeded for this activity is drawn from the induction current of thesignal from the interrogation apparatus, in this case the antennas 21.This design means that the system is free from energy constraints andthe weight that this implies.

It will be understood, however, that active tags, i.e. those which havetheir own energy source, could be used provided that they operate inpassive mode, i.e. they are restricted to responding to an interrogationsignal.

By way of example, it is possible to use tags known as TITIS RI-TRP-W4FFmanufactured by Texas Instruments.

FIG. 2A illustrates the contents of the memory of a tag 17A adapted tointeract with the device according to the invention, in a firstembodiment of the invention.

The memory of the tag 17A stores communication address data ComAdrDatrelating to the mobile terminal. The data ComAdrDat comprise a contactaddress for the mobile terminal 11 by the contextual service, forexample, a material address of the communications interface 13, forexample the material address of a Bluetooth interface, or a cell phonenumber.

The communication address data ComAdrDat may constitute a useridentifier, for example at the level of the control platform 3. In somecases, the communication address data ComAdrDat may be supplemented orreplaced by a user identifier of this kind in the tag 17A itself.

Optionally, the memory of the tag 17A stores general service dataServGenDat relating to at least one service likely to interest the user.The data ServGenDat comprise in particular an identifier of the servicethat interests the user.

Moreover, the memory of the tag 17A may optionally store specificservice data ServSpecDat that characterise a particular service or theuser in relation to this particular service (profile, preferences).These specific data may constitute attributes relating to a particularservice.

Preferably, the data ComAdrDat, ServGenDat and ServSpecDat are stored inthe same tag, reserving bit areas for the different data. This allows inparticular simplified reading of the different data, as a single tagmust be detected. The data ComAdrDat, ServGenDat and ServSpecDat thusform one and the same code word.

The data ComAdrDat, ServGenDat and ServSpecDat may nevertheless bestored in different tags, particularly when the capacity of the memoryof a single tag 17 is not sufficient. The data ServGenDat andServSpecDat thus form several code words (or a set of codes).

When a number of tags are provided, these may be applied to the sameportable object: for example, an object specific to a particularcontextual service, the memories of the tags storing data relating tothis particular service. However, the tags may also be linked toseparate portable objects: for example the data ComAdrDat may be storedon a tag on a first portable object, while the data ServGenDat andServSpecDat relating to different services may be distributed oversecond portable objects, each portable object being assigned to aparticular service.

It will be understood that multiplying the tags offers the possibilityfor the user to manage the properties of the different services:

-   -   in the case of portable objects assigned to a particular        service, the user can choose to take one object with him rather        than another, so as to benefit from a particular service and do        without another,    -   in the case of different portable objects wherein the tag or        tags store different data ServSpecDat but relating to the same        service defined by data ServGenDat, the combination of the        portable objects carried by the user defines the attributes of        the contextual service to be provided.

Alternatively or additionally, at least some of the tags may beselectively activated and deactivated, for example by physicalintervention on the tag, or by reversibly placing a radiation-proof maskover the tag.

In particular, we have described how the combination of differentportable objects might define the contextual service or servicesprovided, but it will be appreciated that the different tags used inthese cases may be provided on the same portable object and made capableof activation/deactivation by the processes described above.

The tag 17A contains, as a minimum, the communication address dataComAdrDat. This does not mean that other additional information-carryingtags may not be provided which do not contain a communication address.

In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2B, the memory of atag 17B stores only database address data DBAdrDat. These data DBAdrDatcomprise an address for registration of a database, stored for exampleon the platform 3. This registration comprises communication addressdata ComAdrDat and optionally general service data ServGenDat andspecific service data ServSpecDat, analogously to the data in FIG. 2A.

The contents of the memory of a tag 17 may be encrypted, for exampleusing the algorithm RSA or the algorithm 3DES to ensure dataconfidentially. In this case, the control platform 3 advantageouslymaintains an encryption key, of public or private nature, enabling dataencryption.

According to the invention, the portable object provided with a tag 17is intended to be carried by the user of the mobile terminal 11. The tag17 and the mobile terminal 11 are associated by the data ComAdrDat (tagof type 17A) or by data relating to the terminal 11 stored in aregistration of a database designated by the data DBAdrDat (tag of type17B). The tag 17 and the mobile terminal 11 thus form a pair.

Operation

The operation of the device according to the invention will now bedescribed with reference to the flow chart in FIG. 3.

A user carries a pair consisting of a radiofrequency tag 17 and a mobileterminal 11. The user enters the service zone 5.

In step 300, an antenna 21 detects the presence of the tag 17 within itsrange.

In step 302, all the data in the memory of the tag 17 are read by theantenna 21 and then sent to the control platform 3. In particular, thecontrol platform 3 receives the communication address data ComAdrDat,the general service data ServGenDat and, if applicable, the specificservice data ServSpecDat.

In step 304, the control platform 3 compares the general service dataServGenDat identifying at least one service desired by the user with theservices available on this control platform 3. If the service identifiedis not available on the control platform 3, the process is abandoned(step 306).

Otherwise, in step 308, the control platform 3 drafts a content specificto the contextual service identified. If appropriate, this draft takesinto account the specific service data ServSpecDat. In a non-restrictivemanner, the content drafted may take the form of a text message, a soundmessage, an internet address, optionally streamed, or an applicationthat can be run on the mobile terminal 11.

In step 310 the control platform 3 sends a message that incorporates thecontent drafted in step 308 to the address defined by the communicationaddress data ComAdrDat.

In step 312, the mobile terminal 11 determines the appropriate actionfor the message received as a function of the type of message (actualmessage or application). For example:

-   -   the message may be a sound message played back by the        conventional sound reproduction means of the mobile terminal 11,    -   the message may be an SMS text message relayed by the        conventional means of the mobile terminal 11,    -   the message may contain a link to a contents address (e.g. an        internet address or URL) and in the particular case of the        message being a pointer to a service or a Web or Wap page, the        mobile terminal 11 may launch a Web or Wap navigator,    -   the message may take the form of an application such as a Java        application, for example, suitable for running directly on the        mobile terminal 11 when the latter supports this technology (if        not, a link to a Web or Wap service may be provided if        necessary).

Other forms of message may be envisaged. The message received maycomprise a link to an application to be downloaded to the mobileterminal 11. This application may in turn implement a service. Moreover,this service may thus be contextual and interact by the pull approach.In other words, the push approach proposed here may serve to trigger acontextual service operating by the pull approach. One useful embodimentmay consist in delivering an initial application (“bootstrap”) by thepush approach. This application then launches the reading of aradiofrequency tag, this time in the mobile terminal 11, provided with asuitable reader. The contents can then be obtained by the pull approachby a Bluetooth, Wifi, GPRS or similar wireless communications means,from local and/or remote servers. This approach reduces the energyconsumption linked with a permanent RFID reader on the mobile terminal:this reading is in fact initiated in contextual manner by theapplication obtained by the push approach in appropriate circumstances.

In the particular embodiment of a tag 17 of the type in FIG. 2B, the tag17 stores only the data DBAdrDat, in step 302, in the form of a link toa database linked to the control platform 3, said database holdinginformation that allows the mobile terminal 11 to be contacted. Specificservice data ServSpecDat relating to the service to be delivered andpeculiar to the carrier of the tag 17, or general service dataServGenDat, are held in this database. These data are also used to draftthe contents of step 308. The implementation of steps 310 and 312 isthus identical to the embodiment in FIG. 2A.

In an alternative method, the communication address data ComAdrDatcomprise a call number for the mobile terminal 11 via the globalcommunications network 26. Typically, this may be a telephone number.

To deliver the message, the control platform 3 can then contact a remotecontrol platform specific to the global network 26.

Advantages

The communication device according to the invention has numerousadvantages.

Thus, the risk of the user receiving unsolicited messages is reducedconsiderably as only the users carrying a tag can give permission toidentify the desired service in order to be contacted. Moreover, thecommunication address of the mobile terminal 11 has to be known in orderto contact the user, and this reading may take place locally.

The identification of the desired service may take place in particularon the basis of the following basic information:

-   -   directly by a service identifier drawn from the tag,    -   as a function of “user preferences” that can be deduced directly        or indirectly from information carried by the tag,    -   as a function of profile data which can be taken from a history        of previous “contacts” with this user, and/or other tags carried        or information supplied by the user.

The same basic information may be used not only to take the decision tosend a message, but also to draft or modify its contents.

When the short-range wireless communications technology used isBluetooth, the Bluetooth communication address stored in the memory ofthe tag is immediately known, thus dispensing with the conventionalBluetooth address discovery phase. This advantage may also be obtainedwith other communication technologies wherein the discovery time of thecommunication interfaces is considerable.

More generally, the device according to the invention makes it possibleto dispense with the discovery mode relative to the short-range wirelesscommunication interface. In fact, this mode is particularly vulnerableto “spam” as it regularly distributes communication address dataComAdrDat or the like.

In the variant in which the communication address data, for exampleComAdrDat, comprise a telephone number (or other number of a globaltelephone service), the device according to the invention offersuniversal communication possibilities, in that all mobile telephoneequipment is capable of receiving a message from the device according tothe invention while remaining highly secure against unsolicited messagesfor the reasons stated hereinbefore.

The devices of the prior art which have a tag reader on the mobileterminal 11 have a drawback: software for reading the contents of theradiofrequency tag has to be activated by the user. In fact, this isimpractical and ineffective, as the user has a tendency to forget toactivate the software. Alternatively, this software may be constantlyactive, but this then implies a permanent energy expenditure which isunacceptable for mobile terminals, which are known to have a limitedautonomous electricity supply. The device according to the inventionovercomes these drawbacks: on the one hand, there is no need for theuser to activate detection software, and on the other hand the elementsthat consume the most energy are fixed and can therefore be connected toa major energy source, for example the mains electricity supply network.

Arrangements

The communication device 1 according to the invention may be arranged invarious ways.

In the configuration in FIG. 4A the physical element of interest 7 isarranged inside a closed area 29 accessible by an obligatorypass-through point at which antennas 21A and 21B are provided. TheBluetooth interface 9 is arranged outside the area 29 and coversvirtually all of it. The zone covered by the Bluetooth interface 9defines the contextual service zone 5. The antennas 21 read theradiofrequency tag 17 carried by a user entering the area 29. The usercan obtain the delivery of a contextual service anywhere within the area29 but also outside it. It will be understood that the Bluetoothinterface 29 could be provided inside the area 29 and its range adaptedto cover substantially only the zone delimited by the enclosed area 29.

In a particular case (not shown), the antennas 21A and 21B are arrangedto form an entry/exit detector, such as the detector describedhereinbefore. The control platform 3 can then be programmed so as toabandon the process of delivering the contextual service when theantennas 21 detect that the user is leaving the area 29.

For example, the configuration of FIG. 4A may be used in a store: thecommunication address data ComAdrDat are read at the entrance to thestore by the antennas 21A and 21B and the Bluetooth interface 9 sendscommercial information inside the store.

In FIG. 4B, two physical elements of interest 7A and 7B are shown. Closeto each of these elements 7A and 7B is provided an antenna 21 connectedto the manager 19.

The elements 7A, 7B and the antennas 21 are arranged within the coveragezone of the short-range wireless communication interface 9. Thiscoverage zone delimits the service zone 5. The tag 17 can be read whenthe user approaches one of the physical elements of interest 7A or 7B.The user can receive the contextual service anywhere in the zone 5.

The arrangement according to FIG. 4B can be used in an airport, forexample. The elements 7A and 7B take the form of registration desks,possibly for different airlines. The communication address dataComAdrDat of the tag 17 are read at these desks using antennas 21.Information relating to a particular flight may be contained within thespecific service data ServSpecDat of the same tag 17 or a different tag.Advantageously, the tag or tags 17 are then placed on the user's ticket.Even after he has left the desk, the user can be informed that hisflight is about to embark, by receiving a message through the Bluetoothinterface 9.

In FIG. 4C, two physical elements of interest 7A and 7B are arrangedinside an enclosure 29 accessible by a single obligatory pass-throughpoint at which two antennas 21 are provided. Close to each of theelements of interest 7A, 7B there is provided a short-range wirelesscommunication interface 9A or 9B, respectively. Thus, a geographicalzone surrounding the elements of interest 7A or 7B is covered by theshort-range wireless communication interface 9A or 9B, respectively. Twoservice zones 5A and 5B are thus defined. The reading of theradiofrequency tag 17 carried by a user is carried out by the antennas21 as he enters the area 29.

The arrangement in FIG. 4C can also be used in an airport. Thecommunication address data ComAdrDat and the data relating to the user'sflight can be read at the entrance to the airport. When the userapproaches the embarkation point allocated to his airline (for examplethe element 7A) he receives time alerts, possibly at regular intervals,as to the final registration times.

In FIG. 4D, the physical element of interest 7, the antenna 21 and theshort-range wireless communication interface 9 are arranged close to oneanother. The short-range wireless communication interface 9 defines acontextual service zone 5 centred on the physical element of interest 7.

The arrangement in FIG. 4D may be used externally in a street furnitureelement such as a town plan, for example. The communication address dataComAdrDat are read at said street furniture element (element of interest7) by the antenna 21 and the location data for example are receivedthrough the Bluetooth interface 9 on the mobile terminal. All this takesplace in a localised geographical zone.

Examples of Use

A non-restrictive example of the use of the device according to theinvention will now be described.

A user contacts or is contacted by a contextual service provider whooffers to provide for him, on his mobile telephone, targeted informationrelating to his particular interests.

The service provider enters in the memory of the tag 17 a firstinformation item relating to the technology to be used to deliver theservice, such as Bluetooth or GSM/GPRS. Depending on the particularcase, the user's telephone number or the material address of theBluetooth interface 13 of his portable telephone 11 is recorded in thememory of the tag 17. If appropriate, this Bluetooth address may bedetected, for example if a Bluetooth discovery mode of the telephone, orthe like, is activated.

The service provider also stores, as general service data ServGenDat,information identifying the advertising service targeted, and, asspecific service data ServSpecDat, information identifying one or morespheres of interest of the user.

The provider gives a card bearing the tag 17 thus programmed to theuser.

If the user goes to a store in which the device according to theinvention is installed, the radiofrequency tag 17 that he carries isread, for example by antennas 21 arranged at the entrance to the store.After processing of the information collected by the platform 3, theuser receives a message on his phone 11 listing the promotions on itemsconnected with the sphere(s) of interest stored.

In a similar example, the user may wear a pullover on which themanufacturer has provided a tag 17 containing specific data relating tothe brand of the pullover. When the user is also carrying a tag 17containing communication address data ComAdrDat, he can receive on hismobile terminal 11 a list of promotions relating to the brand ofpullover that he is wearing.

Nature of the Message Sent

The content pushed to the terminal may be a message of static content(such as a media text, a piece of music, an image or a video), in thesense that it is not a program. It may also be a active content in thesense of a program to be activated immediately (in the moment followingthe action needed to access the content).

Typically, it would be a Java program, “packaged” in a JAR-type archivecontaining not only the program (executable code) but also theappropriate data (such as information which is geo-dependent ordependent on the context).

The JAR (or equivalent) is hence an autonomous package (in the sense ofself-sufficient) intended to be executed in the immediate vicinity ofthe physical object that delivers it. A package of this kind is referredto here as a “Griplet” (from the English word grip), as it is a smallsoftware application to be “gripped” by a movement of the hand and usedimmediately. The package could be deleted by the user when he has nofurther need for it, or replaced by another Griplet loaded from anotherphysical object. Thus it is to some extent a “disposable” softwareapplication.

A number of griplets may be associated with the same service, eachversion corresponding to a different set of parameters. A griplet mayalso be generated dynamically in relation to the user's choice.

Numerous modes of distributing griplets and more generally applicationsto be pushed may be envisaged.

In a first mode, all the resources needed for the operation of theapplication are assembled in an archive, for example an archive of JARformat where the JAVA programming language is concerned. This archivemay also be signed, so that the mobile terminal receiving it can verifythe origin of the contents by means of a certificate.

In a second mode, the mobile terminal has an initial executable programwhich may, if applicable, be received by push. Complementary elementsmay be received subsequently, capable of interacting with the initialexecutable program. These elements may be received by push. Thesecomplementary elements may take the form of:

-   -   a content that may be termed “static”, i.e. data of the text,        image, sound or similar type, or composite documents,    -   executable program modules that complete the functions of the        initial program. A module is linked dynamically to the initial        program: for example, in Java, such a function may be provided        by the “classloader” mechanism, and/or    -   code which the initial program has to interpret (i.e. scripts).

These complementary elements may influence the operation of the initialprogram.

As these elements are sent by push in the service zone, the activity ofthe application and its composition may develop as a function of themovements (or travel) of the user within the service zone and/or thehandling of the tags carried out by the user.

Particular Applications

Different particular applications will now be considered.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a particular structure of a guide board withmultiple antennas. Here, RFID antennas are used, for example. The boardP50 has an active display zone AS on which symbols S00 to S33 appear,arranged in a matrix, for example. The user indicates the destination hewishes to reach by moving his RFID tag towards one of the symbols S00 toS33.

In a first embodiment (FIG. 5) the board P50 has laterally, in this caseon the left-hand side of the active zone SA, at least two long obliqueantennas LHR and LLR, of medium range (of the order of one metre) whoseradiation axes converge towards the active zone SA. These antennas arefor example the models CIPAM CIP_ANT-LF made by Texas Instruments.

The antennas LHR and LLR are permanently reading (in operation) and areprovided in order to recognise tags bearing a data word containing a(variable) identification for connection with the carrier and,optionally, a fixed part which amounts to authorisation of access(directly or indirectly).

With this placement of antennas (at least two) relative to the board,when a response is detected from a tag, the power of the signal receivedis read at each antenna. From this the intersection of at least two arcsof a circle is deduced within the plane of the board, for example LHR1and LLR1. The intersection located in the active zone SA denotes one ofthe symbols, in this case S11.

Other antenna arrangements may be envisaged, which indicate theintersection of two circles in every case, or several intersections ifthere are more than two antennas, thus possibly removing the ambiguitythat exists when there are two different intersections within the zoneSA. The ambiguity may also be removed by following the movement of thetag in front of the board P50, as the following of the movement may makeone of the intersections improbable.

Alternatively or additionally (FIG. 6), a grid of very short rangeantennas may be arranged in front of or behind the plane of the board,level with each of the symbols S00 to S33. The antenna closest to thetag then determines which of the symbols S00 to S33 is meant. Theseantennas may be for example the models CIPAM CIP_ANT-LF made by TexasInstruments.

In both cases, the recognition is initiated by a tag held by the mobileterminal/user pair.

The following operations then take place (FIG. 7):

-   -   at 700, the user is detected (and a communication address, for        example his Bluetooth address), as well as the destination,        defined here by the particular zone S00 to S33 which is        designated by the proximity of the tag (alternatively or        additionally, the destination may be defined by a code        incorporated in the word that the tag contains).    -   at 702, these data are sent to the local or remote server.    -   at 704, dynamic creation by the server of a parameterised        application, or griplet, to ensure navigation from the board to        the destination. This application may contain, in particular,        data specifying the destination, and the cartographic data        needed to visualise the journey.    -   at 706, the server “pushes” this application (griplet) to the        user in question, using his communication address.    -   at 708, the application (griplet) is received on the terminal        (telephone) of the user.    -   at 710, the user launches the application (griplet).        Alternatively, the telephone is configured to activate the        application (griplet) implicitly on receiving it. This        alternative embodiment applies for example where the        applications are certified and the telephone is able to verify        the origin of the applications.    -   at 712, the use of the application, in this case a navigation,        may begin.

If the destination zone is precise enough, this destination forms thedirect objective of the navigation. If not, a restricted list ofintermediate locations (e.g. street names) to be reached may be listedfor the user.

The navigator displays the map and starts the navigation (pinpointingthe current position and the destination).

TYPICAL EXAMPLE Contextual Service in an Urban Environment

This relates to notice boards capable of “pushing” griplets containing:

-   -   a small satellite navigation software,    -   a map and/or a plan of the area and/or a satellite photo and/or        a small geographical information system regarding the zone        around the board.

Let us assume that the user's terminal has its own GPS receiver (orequivalent) or a displaced GPS head (communicating with the terminal byBluetooth for example).

All the user has to do is place his RFID close to the appropriate logoon the board (typically placed on the side containing the district map)to start up the navigation griplet almost immediately, without goingthrough a selection menu of applications on the telephone (which is amajor advantage in terms of ergonomics on a mobile terminal).

Similarly, when the user has no further use for this navigation gripletand has arrived for example at the entrance to the underground stationthat he was looking for, it could similarly place his RFID tag close toa board providing him with a griplet dedicated to the underground system(lines, timetables . . . ) or a similar one for the bus service.

If the mobile terminal/user pair does not have a GPS function (orequivalent), it is also possible to navigate from board to board.

Obviously, the guiding application is not restrictive. More generally,the griplet system enables the user to initiate services of assistance,aid or comfort, purely by placing his RFID close to the objects capableof delivering a contextual application of the griplet type,advantageously identified visually by a logo.

User Interface

The user interface may comprise the following elements:

a. Displaying a logo or other symbol at the physical object (board, inthe embodiment described) capable of providing the informationdistributed. The logo tells the user that he has only to move close tothe logo with his RFID card (or his telephone if the RFID tag isprovided on it) in order for the object to “capture” the information herequires. This logo corresponds, in fact, to a “virtual grip”. The cardmay also be covered by said logo.b. At the user level, it is necessary to provide the option of accessingthe contents intuitively, by a movement: in the simplest case (a single“digital object” to be accessed) the movement may simply consist ofplacing the tag (or the mobile telephone+tag pair) close to the logo.c. When a number of contents are provided, the selection may also becarried out in a “physical” manner:

-   -   A number of logos are displayed on the menu of contents,    -   To access the selected content, the user moves the tag towards        the corresponding logo,        -   For example, an advertising hoarding may have two sides (one            map and one advertisement) and provide two associated            digital contents; a logo would then be placed on each side,            with the appropriate antenna arrangement for detecting both            sides. It is also possible to have several contents on each            side.        -   A board may also contain several different contents (or the            same content/service to be modified) as a function of a            particular geometric arrangement on the hoarding: for            example an orientation assistance hoarding may display a map            and offer the user a navigation service to a destination            selected on the hoarding by pointing to it with a tag. An            array of antennas (e.g. in a grid pattern) is provided for            detecting the different zones to be “pointed out” on the            map, as described above.        -   In more complex cases it is also possible to associate            commands with movements of tags, for example, moving the tag            from right to left facing the logo, or from left to right,            would produce two different commands. Here, again, an            appropriate array of antennas is provided to detect the            transition.

The skilled man will understand that a user interface of this kindenables the user to makes use of dynamic services very easily whilestill keeping the risk of SPAM (pushing of unsolicited messages) withinlegal limits. The interface will be capable of being used with futureinformation distribution systems.

Optionally, the board or hoarding may be fitted with a lighting devicethe light emission characteristics of which, typically its colour, maydepend on: the antenna that is currently reading the tag, thecommunication technology used, the proximity of the tag, the reading ofdata on the tag, movement, or the like. In particular, the board may bebacklit so as to illuminate the antenna currently reading the contentsof the tag.

Programming and Distribution of Tags

The use of the device according to the invention involves on the onehand the programming of a communication address of the mobile terminal11 capable of being exploited by the platform 3 in the memory of a tag17. Moreover, the tags (or portable objects) have to be given out to theusers.

A first solution is to distribute the tags “on site”, i.e. close to theplace where the device according to the invention is installed. Forexample, a desk or collection window may be provided on site for thedistribution of tags 17. A tag 17 may also be delivered at the same timeas another service: in an airport, for example, a tag may be handed tothe user together with his boarding card, at the check-in desk.

When the communication address is known by the user, typically when itis a mobile telephone number, the address may be recorded in the tag 17instead of handing out the tag in response to simple informationprovided by the user. If appropriate, the telephone number may be tested(by a call or by sending a message such as an SMS message, for example)to prevent errors in the number recorded.

However, the communication address may not be known to the user, e.g. ifit is a so-called “low level” address such as a material address of aBluetooth interface.

In this case, the user may be asked to put his telephone into“discoverable” mode, when the wireless communication interface requiresit (this is true of Bluetooth, for example). A terminal detecting devicethat conforms to the wireless technology used can then draw up a list ofmobile terminals identified as being present within its range. When theuser terminal is identified, a tag is programmed with the addressdetected and identified. Optionally, a griplet may be sent to theterminal by the push method, and this griplet may in turn interact withthe device according to the invention.

In the embodiment in FIG. 2B, a user identifier in a database may beprogrammed into the memory of the tag 17.

A second solution is to supply the tag 17 after an ordering step, e.g.using an Internet-service. In this case, a low level address mayoptionally be detected by the Internet access terminal. For example, apersonal computer having a Bluetooth interface can determine thematerial address of a Bluetooth interface of a mobile terminal.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

In the description of the architecture of the device providedhereinbefore in connection with FIG. 1, in particular, a controlplatform 3 arranged locally was considered. However, this controlplatform 3 may be at least partly displaced. For example, a part of thecontrol platform 3 running the manager 19 and the interface 9 may bearranged locally and connected to a part of the control platformmanaging the interface 25. The connection between these parts may takethe form of an Internet connection.

The above description relates to the delivery of a contextual service toa user as a function of data specific to this user and utilised by thecontextual service. In some cases the contextual service delivered to aparticular user may depend on the data specific to a plurality of usersput together by the device specific to a number of users. Conversely, acontextual service determined on the basis of data specific to aparticular user may be delivered in identical fashion to a plurality ofusers.

FIGS. 3 and 7 may be seen as illustrating these processes.

More precisely, the invention may also be seen as a local communicationprocess.

Very generally, such a process comprises the following steps:

a. at a selected location, having the use of a plurality of passiveportable objects each containing at least one code word,b. providing a plurality of beacons, each capable of interacting with aportable object in order to acquire the code word that it contains,c. in the presence of an interaction between a beacon and a portableobject:

-   -   c1. at least temporarily storing the code word acquired, then    -   c2. implementing a decision mechanism relating to the        spontaneous    -   sending of a message, in which the decision to send a message,        its contents and/or its destination address depend at least        partly on the code word stored.

Of course, this process may be refined according to the differentvariants listed in the present description. Thus, for example, in thecase of the board (FIGS. 5 and 6):

-   -   step a. is carried out with the board provided in a selected        location, while the user has a plurality of passive portable        objects each containing at least one code word,    -   as for step b., in the same location as the board in the        example, one or more beacons are also provided, each capable of        interacting with a portable object 17, in order to capture the        code word that it contains.    -   Finally, in step c., the message may take one of the forms        described above, particularly a link to an Internet site, or an        executable application.

In the device described, a GSM interface is used. It will be understoodthat any type of widespread global communication in which the interfaceis determined by a number known to the user and capable of supportingthe sending of messages as described herein may be used.

Similarly, the invention is not limited to a Bluetooth type interfacebut includes all interfaces that conform to a local wirelesscommunication technology, the interfaces of which can be integrated inmobile terminals, as described hereinbefore.

Finally, this specification has discussed radiofrequency tags of theRFID type, but the invention could equally be used with any device of areasonable size that is portable, capable of storing data and can beread at a short distance by suitable equipment.

The present invention may be used in an installation such as thatdescribed in French Patent Application no. 0503678 filed on 13 Apr. 2005by the present Applicant, which is hereby incorporated by reference, toall intents and purposes.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described butencompasses all the variants that may be envisaged by the skilled manwithin the scope of the claims that follow.

1. Local communication device of the type comprising: a station (9; 25)having a mode of communication with mobile terminals (11), a controller(3) capable of sending a message intended for one or more mobileterminals (11), characterised in that the device further comprises abeacon (19; 21; 21A; 21B) capable of interacting with at least onepassive portable object (17), in order to acquire at least one code wordfrom such a portable object (17), the controller (3) is arranged to asto: interact with the beacon (19; 21; 21A; 21B) in order to store thecode word acquired, at least temporarily, then, following such aninteraction, to implement a decision mechanism relating to thespontaneous sending of a message, wherein the decision to send amessage, its contents and/or the destination address depend at leastpartly on the code word stored.
 2. Device according to claim 1,characterised in that the code word comprises a representation of a calladdress for a mobile terminal (11).
 3. Device according to claim 2,characterised in that the controller is arranged so that the decision tosend a message, and/or its contents, depend at least partly onattributes than can be determined from the call address.
 4. Deviceaccording to claim 1, characterised in that the beacon (19; 21A; 21B) isimplanted as a monitor of access to a space zone covered by at least onestation (9; 25) according to a short-range communication mode, so thatafter interaction between a portable object (17) and the beacon (19;21A; 21B) on passing the access monitor, communications between thestation or stations (9; 25) and the mobile terminal (11) are permittedsubstantially over the entire space zone in question.
 5. Deviceaccording to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a plurality ofbeacons (19; 21) implanted physically in proximity to zones of interest(7), so that after interaction between a portable object (17) and abeacon (19; 21) of this kind, communications between the station or oneof the stations (9; 25) and the mobile terminal (11) are permitted as afunction of a comparison between personal attributes designated by aportable object (17) and attributes of the zone of interest associatedwith the beacon (19; 21).
 6. Device according to claim 1, characterisedin that the station (9; 25) is capable of sending the messages byshort-range communication and by sending messages through atelecommunications link, and 15 the controller (3) is arranged to sendthe message by short-range communication or through thetelecommunications link each time, as a function of at least one of thecodes of said code word.
 7. Device according to claim 1, characterisedin that the station (9; 25) comprises a global-type communications mode.8. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the station (9;25) comprises a short-range wireless communications mode.
 9. Deviceaccording to claim 1, characterised in that the portable object (17)comprises at least one radiofrequency tag (17).
 10. Device according toclaim 1, characterised in that the beacon comprises a board (PZO)provided with at least two antennas arranged so as to 30 determine theposition of a portable object on the board by measuring the intensity ofsignals received by the respective antennas.
 11. Device according toclaim 1, characterised in that the beacon comprises a board equippedwith a plurality of antennas, arranged in a grid pattern, for example,so that the position of a portable object (17) facing the board can bedetected by means for identifying the antenna that is closest to theobject.
 12. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that thedecision to send a message and/or its contents further depend at leastpartly on the position of the portable object on the board.
 13. Deviceaccording to claim 10, characterised in that the decision to send amessage and/or its contents further depend at least partly on a movementcaused to the portable object in front of the board.
 14. Deviceaccording to claim 1, characterised in that the code word comprises anidentifier of a communication address for the mobile terminal (11) andan identifier of at least one contextual service to be supplied. 15.Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the code wordcomprises an identifier of a contextual service to be supplied and atleast 20 one parameter specific to said service.
 16. Device according toclaim 1, characterised in that the message comprises a program that canbe run directly by the mobile terminal (11).
 17. Device according toclaim 1, characterised in that the code word contains an address for adatabase entry.
 18. Device according to claim 1, characterised in thatthe decision to send a message and/or its contents depend at leastpartly on code words stored from a plurality of portable objects (17).19. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the decision tosend a message and/or its contents depend at least partly on a pluralityof code words.